WAAAYTOOO

7 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

Pretty darn good. That's usually a sign that you won that bid.

…especially with the other bids “expired”.  

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

23N B3B? Have a great time! Now THAT would definitely require use of the free laundry.

Hopefully you'll share some stuff. I think we're down to @AshleyDillo's blog and she keeps getting caught up in casino and tablemate shenanigans in between tagging me for food and drink porn.

I thought about doing a blog but these are going to be pretty boring cruises.  Maybe I will just do a comments blog…but I guess that’s all a blog is, anyway !  We’ll see…

I had to do the health questionnaire (utter waste of time, IMO) today for tomorrow’s EX and was able to do that on the app….but the website has been up and down all day.

I had a little trouble logging in earlier today (I got an error message saying, "It's not you, it's us") but when I came back later and tried, I was able to get in without any issues.

Okay…upon further investigation, I found the nonrefundable note on both of the excursions, the 3 night dining package and the embarkation lunch for my 4-5 EX sailing.  Interestingly enough, that note does NOT appear on the purchase of the Hideaway reservations for the second third on our EX B3B (4-14).  For anyone else interested in looking, go to your “Order History” and open the reservation.  This is where I found the notes.
 

I find it hard to believe that they are going to implement a non-refundable policy on excursions.  On their private island experiences?  Maybe.   I really don’t see how they could enforce a nonrefundable policy without stating that information clearly at the time of purchase, so I think this is a glitch BUT it is a strong hint that this might be coming.  Not a fan…

I just bought 2 Hideaway passes for our 4-14 EX cruises ($19.99 !) and got no such “nonrefundable” message. 

I think it has to do with the GTY categories.  If they know for sure that there's an obstruction, they will note it but if the room hasn't been assigned yet and there's still a chance that your GTY will be an obstructed or partially obstructed room, they now show "pending".

9 hours ago, Mturk said:

Just took a look at the cruise vacation receipt from our January Oasis cruise which we booked as a suite GTY. Under obstructed view, it showed as pending.

They recently changed the confirmations to show "pending" b/c there were a number of issues with peoples' original confirmations showing 0% and then later being assigned some degree of obstructed view.  

58 minutes ago, ChessE4 said:

For me, a thin pillow is more important than the mattress.

Dan, too.  He always brings his own pillow.

When we were on AL in Feb they still had the Samba Grill.  The only other ship (that I am aware of) with the Samba Grill is Radiance.

I agree with both @Woody14 and @loki007.  If you have never seen Chichen Itza, it is worth the effort.  It’s a long drive and a long day….but it is one of the 7 Wonders of the World !  Do it once.  …but if you don’t want a super long day, you will probably want to skip it.  We visited cruise ports in Mexico, probably 50 times before we finally made it to Chichen Itza on a cruise that called at Progresso.  I highly recommend this.  It’s still a long drive but you get to skip the ferry ride from COZ to Playa del Carmen, which is a big plus..  

We dove YEARS ago in St Maarten and it was among the worst dives I’ve ever done.  No visibility at all.  Maybe it was the time of year.  Conversely, dove in Grand Cayman and thoroughly enjoyed it.   We’re too old now and they won’t let us dive anymore

11 minutes ago, billdauterive said:

I'm finally doing my first B2B next month and curious how the lunch works.  From my understanding there is a dedicated B2B cruiser lunch in the main dining room.  Do you go straight to the dining room after being led back on the ship or do you just meet there at a certain time?  (Or did I hallucinate everything and I'll be stuck with the hoards at the Windjammer?)

So far, every B2B that we’ve been on has had a consecutive cruiser lunch.  In the distant past I think there were occasions when they did not have the luncheons, presumably due to there being too few B2B’ers, but I think with the onset of the Key program, they have simply combined the B2B’ers with the Key folks if the B2B numbers were low.  I have been to one such combined event recently.  Frankly, you would not even know the difference as the menus and seating/arrangements are very similar.

So I would definitely expect a consecutive cruiser luncheon of some kind.  They will give you a paper with B2B information as to when/where to meet for the consecutive cruiser parade and then also info on when and where to go for your lunch.  It’s a great perk, IMO since embarkation day lunch is such a PITA without some kind of organized event.

21 minutes ago, KristiZ said:

Yes, but *shouldn’t* it be??

Yes !

I think @twangster's most important point was that you need to make sure that the ship you are booking will meet your needs BEFORE you get onboard.  Thank GOODness Royal provides lost of options for lots of different situations.  If you are looking for lots of activities involving water apparatuses (yes, I checked....the plural of apparatus is not apparati), then Q class is not what you're looking for.  If you insist on a covered pool for cooler weather, don't book Odyssey.

11 hours ago, CanHardlyWait said:

Best chance of ever getting any "customer service" is while you are still onboard.

This !!  You absolutely MUST address this kind of issue while still onboard.  Once you disembark, there is virtually -0- chance you will get any assistance.  If your room attendant is no help, and you speak with the floor supervisor and get no help, then next step is the Hotel Director.  You must escalate these things yourself and do not cease until you get some kind of resolution.  I'm not saying that there is anything they could have done....if they don't have any spare mattresses, they just don't....but if there is any kind of compensation looming, this is where it would come from.  Once you're off the ship, you are pretty much SoL.

1 minute ago, Sweety said:

I will be on the Christmas cruise.

WOOHOO !  I need to make a list !  We'll have a party !!!!!

2 hours ago, sleepy425 said:

Not going to lie, I was actively watching people trying to figure out if I could spot you based on your profile pic.  This year I will try harder to find you!  

That'll be easy.  Let's just pick a time and place to meet !  Last year I had a great meet-up with @fireclan.  I wish I had included you in that one so I apologize for forgetting that you would be there !!!  We won't let that happen again....

...and OBTW, that photo is nearly 20 years old.  I really MUST replace it.  

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

We hated Voices 

UGH.  Us too.  All I could think of while I was watching it the first time was, "...are they really SO cheap now that they won't even have live music anymore...".  We liked Effectors II but once was enough.  I made reservations but doubt that we will go.

2 hours ago, Cactus527 said:

Absolutely with you on this. I've found it disturbingly useful in all kinds of places. Like yesterday, when I was sick, it was a nice place to put my water *by* the desk instead of on it (because I had to keep my sick supplies there). Disturbingly useful. #thanksbezos

Sorry to hear that you’ve been sick.

12 minutes ago, Snotarni said:

Last year, Mariner was "testing" an embarkation lunch in the MDR...  we tried it and it was very good, and more importantly, it was quiet and not crowded.  We're going on in a couple weeks, not sure they're doing that anymore, and/if it's still the same quiet/uncrowded experience.

Agree.  We tried it too and it was surprisingly good.

6 minutes ago, warrenz1963 said:

Thank you!

You're welcome !

41 minutes ago, warrenz1963 said:

When can I make specialty dining reservations? I will not be buying a dining package

If you are going to be purchasing individual specialty dining reservations without a package, I strongly recommend that you pre-purchase from the Cruise Planner.  At that time you will be able to select a day and time of your choosing.  If you wait until you board, you will not only pay more for the meals but you run the risk of having limited availability.  If you pre-purchase the meals prior to boarding and then want to change them in some way (different day, time or restaurant) you can always do that but you are waaay better off purchasing before you board.

13 minutes ago, JustMeJoe said:

We're catching up with you on the 14th and 19th.  Hope to see you there. 

Fantastic news !

Today when I check my upcoming EX sailing, the menu was there.  No idea why it was missing the past few days.  Is it correct ?  Who knows.  I’ll find out in 5 days…but at least I have a shot at solving my MDR/3 night package/BOGO puzzle before boarding.